SLEUTH, The Italian Job, Get Carter... filmmakers haven’t had much luck remaking old Michael Caine movies. In fact, it’s taken Joel and Ethan Coen – here on scriptwriting duties – to break the duck with a droll take on the 1966 film of the same name.

Colin Firth plays an art curator planning to con millions from his abusive billionaire boss (Alan Rickman) with the help of a master forger (Tom Courtenay) and a Texan rodeo queen (Cameron Diaz). Gambit doesn’t feel like a film from the Coens but their black, deadpan sense of humour is fully to the fore.

From a flatulent hotel guest to Firth’s attempts to maintain his dignity in the face of endless humiliations, it is very, very funny.

In other words, it’s a great Caine remake. Filmmakers take note, mind, because we really don’t need a new version of Blame It On Rio.